I’m anti-handouts –Atupele

Presidential aspirant Atupele Muluzi, the 33 year-old son of former President Bakili Muluzi, says he does not believe in giving monetary handouts, saying his ‘change’ agenda also includes moving away from dishing out freebies as campaign inducement.

Atupele told Nyasa Times after his meeting on Wednesday at UDF Headquarters in Limbe, Blantyre, and party members shared money.

He however said the money was not given out by him.

Atupele: I do not believe in handouts

“I do not believe in handouts,” said Atupele, whose father, the former president Bakili Muluzi was known for giving out monetary handouts to people.

“The money that was given out at the function did not come from me but the party organizers to cater for the transport of those who had attended this meeting,” Atupele clarified.

The young Muluzi said he was not a parsimonious person, saying naturally he loves sharing with the impoverished but does not believe in handouts.

“I believe that handouts may be misunderstood and I personally believe in hard work, sacrifice and commitment,” said Atupele.

“I have listened to those voices that are strongly against this culture of handouts and would like to assure them that I aim to respond accordingly,” said the Machinga East lawmaker, pointing out that he will be his “own man.”

“My campaign is based on ideas and a willingness to transform our country for the better and not money,” stressed Atupele.

In Malawi election campaigns are expensive because voters expect candidates to distribute handouts, such as T-Shirts, cloth, food items and even money during campaign rallies and door-to-door campaigning, as a sign of ‘compassion’ to their constituents.